WILLIE Mullins is hoping that Chateau Conti, a dual bumper winner in his native France, could develop into a live Supreme Novices’ Hurdle contender. The gelding made every yard under Ruby Walsh in the Un De Sceaux colours of Eddie O’Connell from Glanmire to capture last Saturday’s McCarthy Insurance Group Maiden Hurdle effortlessly at Cork.

Sent off the 2/5 favourite, the five-year-old came home in a canter, nine lengths to the good over Canelie, but “just wasn’t ready at Christmas,” according to his trainer, who added: “But it was fortunate for connections that he could come here. Conditions out there are very heavy but he likes to get on with things and jumped well.

“To do that on his first run is a good sign. He jumped pretty high, but I think there will be improvement in his jumping and I wouldn’t see much need to go out in trip – we have plenty of stayers in Ireland.”

Mullins concluded: “He’ll be given an entry in the Supreme Novices, but I’ll see what comes up and give him another run between now and then.”

The trainer’s son Patrick Mullins ended the meeting on the right note when guiding the Joseph O’Brien-trained newcomer West Coast Time to an impressive nine and a half-length victory over the favourite Drumconnor Lad in the McCarthy Insurance Group Flat Race.

Owned by Michael Tabor and the first foal of high-class 13-time race winner Refinement to race, the Westerner gelding had only a loose horse to contend with in creating a big impression at the generous price of 5/2. “It was a good performance and he liked the ground, I’d say,” was O’Brien’s immediate reaction.

“I didn’t expect him to do that – I thought he’d get a bit tired, but I’d say he’s not a bad horse. His dam handled soft ground but, if he’s good enough, he’ll handle good ground and I’d say he’ll definitely have to run again before we start thinking about him as a horse for the Cheltenham bumper.”

back in action

Liam Burke’s Sumos Novios, on the sidelines for more than a year, returned to action in the McCarthy Insurance Group Handicap Chase. The 10/1 shot headed the favourite Mick The Jiver before the final obstacle on his way to a likeable seven and a half-length win under Robbie Power, the third success of his career.

The lightly-raced nine-year-old was bequeathed to the trainer by Susan Humphries, wife of Sumos Novios’s late owner Ray when he died. Burke commented: “He’s 17hh plus and is a hard horse to train, with problems to his feet. His first run is always his best every time.

“He wants that ground and I have him in the Leopardstown Chase, but the ground probably won’t be soft enough for him then. He’ll probably be entered for the Thyestes, but we have My Murphy for that and, maybe, something like the Midlands National would suit.

“He has a huge talent, but unfortunately has run only three times every year. Jumping is his strong point and Robbie suits him, because he’s a real horseman.”

Ger Murphy’s McCarthy Insurance Group Maiden Hurdle winner Boru Boy was overcoming an even lengthier absence, dating back to June 2014, when going in at odds of 16/1 over this three-mile trip.

Ridden by J.J. Slevin, who picked up a two-day suspension for using his whip with his arm above shoulder height and failing to give his mount time to respond, the Pat Doyle-owned long shot ran on strongly for pressure to wear down Iconic Image and Alkaa Lion close home and prevail by a head and a short-head.

Murphy, who trains just seven horses behind Doyle’s garage in Courtown, revealed: “He got a bit of a leg after winning two point-to-points and I take it day by day with him. I only brought him back in September and he’s never had a problem since then, so I expected a big run out of him. I’ve been doing this for a bit of sport for over 40 years.”

Michael Hourigan’s Limerick scorer Moores Road (4/1) defied a 9lb rise by the handicapper for his recent handicap success over the same trip a gutsy win in the day’s most valuable race, the €24,500 Gerardine McCarthy Memorial Handicap Hurdle.

Strongly pressed by market leader Scoir Mear from the last, Andrew Ring’s mount pulled out that bit extra under strong driving, which earned the rider a four-day whip ban, plus one day’s tuition on the correct use of the whip at RACE, to repel the danger by half a length.

The bottom-weight races for the Rochford McGinley Partnership who are originally from Ballyduff, but now living in England. Hourigan stated: “I said to Andrew before the race: ‘Don’t get him claustrophobic,’ something I just learned by mistake. Chasing is on hold for him now and I’ll try and find another one of those handicaps for him.”

BYRNES’ CHRISTMAS

Christmas may have come late for trainer Charles Byrnes, but it was worth waiting for thanks to Indian Monsoon’s win for Davy Russell in the McCarthy Insurance Group Rated Novice Hurdle.

Third behind Coquin Mans at Limerick, the five-year-old was well supported in the market from 7/2 into 9/4 and duly obliged for the trainer’s Adare patron Martin White when pushed out to defeat the hot-pot Veinard by seven lengths. “Santy didn’t come to me at Christmas. He forgot about me,” quipped a smiling Byrnes, “but this horse loves the ground and that’s the key to him. He ran well in Limerick and jumped okay apart from the third last. He’ll go for a handicap or a winners of one.”

Uncle Danny, from the John Queally stable, sprang a 33/1 surprise under Danny Mullins in the McCarthy Insurance Group Beginners Chase with an all-the-way five-length win for the L.W.L Partnership, made up of three families from Leitrim, Waterford and London.

Market leader Blazer finished a further seven lengths adrift in third.

“He got a heavy fall in Navan in early October and it took a while to get his confidence back,” Queally explained. “But there certainly wasn’t anything wrong with it today and the ground didn’t seem to bother him either. He’ll go for a handicap now, because he wouldn’t be good enough for a novice.”

Acting Stewards

P. McLernon, Ms K. Horgan, E. Flannery, S. McDonogh, P.W. Murtagh.

HORSE TO FOLLOW

CANELIE (G. Elliott) Might well have finish closer to easy winner Chateau Conti but for being hampered by the heavy faller three out in the two-mile maiden hurdle.